Nursing device

ABSTRACT

A nursing device generally includes a strap having a first end and a second end. The first end may be permanently attached to a nursing garment and the second end provided with means for being removably attached to the nursing garment. The strap may thus be wrapped at least partially about a portion of the outer garment and retain it in a position that facilitates nursing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation to co-pending U.S. application Ser.No. 14/667,095, filed Mar. 24, 2015, which claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/969,456, filed Mar. 24, 2014, the entire disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

This invention relates to wear apparel for women, and more particularlyto a nursing garment and nursing garment accessories for a mother.

BACKGROUND

A variety of nursing garments for women have been devised. Typically,such garments have utilized fasteners of some sort to temporarilyrelease or remove a portion of the garment and thereby provide the babyaccess to its mother's breast. Unaddressed, however, is the outergarment being worn by the mother.

The outer garment may be any of a variety of shirts or blouses includingsweatshirts, button-downs, sweaters, tee-shirts, or other tops. Theouter garment may obstruct the child's access to the breast and must beheld away from the breast. This may require the mother to use one arm tohold the child while using the other to hold the outer garment. Mothersmay also retain the outer garment by pinching it between their chin andshoulder or performing other contortions. All such ways of retaining theouter garment are made even more complicated in the case of a youngerchild, such as a newborn, who requires more support while nursing.

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a devicefor restraining the outer garment worn by a nursing mother while shenurses. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide animproved nursing garment, such as a nursing bra, having means forretaining the outer garment to facilitate nursing.

SUMMARY

The nursing device generally includes a strap having a first end and asecond end. The first end may be permanently attached to a nursinggarment and the second end provided with means for being removablyattached to the nursing garment. The strap may thus be wrapped at leastpartially about a portion of the outer garment and retain it in aposition that facilitates nursing.

Other embodiments relate to a nursing bra comprising an under band and ashoulder strap having a first end and a second end, the first end havinga fastener and the second end being coupled to the under band at a backof the bra. A cup extends from the under band to a position proximatethe first end of the shoulder strap and includes a fastener positionedat an apex. The fastener configured to couple the cup to the shoulderstrap. An under strap is provided extending from the first end of theshoulder strap to the under band. A garment retaining strap extends froma first end at the under band, the under strap, or a point where theunder band is coupled to the under strap, the garment retaining straphaving a second end coupled to a fastener configured to couple thesecond end of the garment retaining strap to the shoulder strap. Thegarment retaining strap is generally positioned between the cup and theunder strap when the apex of the cup is coupled to the shoulder strap.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of one embodimentthereof, presented in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved nursing bra.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the improved nursing bra of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the improvednursing bra of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another enlarged perspective of a portion of the improvednursing bra of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial elevation view of the improved nursing bra of FIG. 1shown retaining a garment.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a nursing apron with a garment retentiondevice.

FIG. 7 is another elevation view of the nursing apron of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a partial front elevation view of the nursing apron of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a partial rear elevation view of the nursing apron of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of a garment retaining device.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the garment retaining device of FIG. 10in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, an improved nursing bra may incorporate agarment retaining device. While a nursing bra is shown, the device maybe used with similar garments including nursing tank tops, etc. Thenursing bra 10 may include an under band 12, cups 14, and shoulderstraps 16 which extend from an apex of each cup 14 to a rear area ofunder band 12. In some embodiments, the under band 12 may be closeableat either the rear or between cups 14 by clips, clasps or other means.Cup 14 is shown as coupled to under band 12 proximate to piping 18 whichextend along a curve and may, in some embodiments, contain a wiresupport. Cup 14 extends generally upward from piping 18 to an apex 20where fastener 22, shown as a loop, removably couples cup 14 to shoulderstrap 16 at fastener 25, shown as a post.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, cup 14 may be unfastened from shoulder strap 16by lifting disconnecting fastener 22 from fastener 25. This allows cup14 to fold downwardly to facilitate nursing of a child. When cup 14 isfolded down, the garment retaining device may be seen. The garmentretaining device includes a strap 26, which may be fixedly coupledproximate to piping 18 by means of stitching and extend upwardly whereit terminates at fastener 26 which is shown as a loop. Strap 24 may beretained by coupling fastener 26 to fastener 28, shown as a post. Understrap 30 may generally extend from coupler 32 to a point proximate topiping 18 where it may be fixedly coupled to the under band bystitching. Coupler 32 links under strap 30 to shoulder strap 16 by wayof strap segment 34 and coupler 36.

As shown in FIG. 4, strap 24 may be released by unfastening fastener 26from fastener 28. Once released, strap 24 may be folded downwardlytowards piping 18 outside of cup 14. As shown in FIG. 5, an outergarment worn by a user over nursing bra 10 may be lifted and retainedabove the bottom of under band 12 by bringing strap 24 under a the outergarment 40, forward of the user, over outer garment 40 and thenrecoupling strap 14 to shoulder strap 16 by connecting fastener 26 tofastener 28. Outer garment 40 in thereby retained between strap 24 andunder strap 30 and above the bottom of under band 12 to give the user, anursing mother, a way to keep her outer garment out of the way whilehaving both hands free to hold the nursing child.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a nursing apron 110 may include a cover 112that at least partially covers the mother's shirt, blouse or other top116. A neck strap 114 may extend from the top of cover 112 at one sideto the other side of the top edge of cover 112. FIG. 7 shows the nursingapron 110 of FIG. 6 being used to retain the mother's top 116 tofacilitate nursing.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show one of the ends of neck strap 114 in greater detailwith FIG. 8 providing a front view and FIG. 9 providing a rear view. Asshown, neck strap 114 includes a main strap segment 118 extending from acoupler 122 to another coupler (not shown) at the other end. Coupler 122is shown as a tri glide, bot other similar couplers may be usedincluding releasing clasps and the like to facilitate donning andremoval of nursing apron 110. As shown, segment 120 extends from a point124 proximate the top edge of cover 112 to coupler 122. Segment 126exends from coupler 122, behind segment 120 and terminates at end 128.

Segment 120 includes a fastener area 130 on which fasteners 132, shownas female snap halves, are positioned. Fasteners 134 are positioned onsegment 126 proximate to end 128 and are complimentary to fasteners 132and are shown as male snap halves. As shown in FIG. 7, Segment 126 maybe looped under top 116, under a bottom edge of top 116, and up tosegment 120 where fasteners 132 and 134 may be used to removeably couplesegment 126 to segment 120. This configuration creates a loop in whichtop 116 may be retained while a child nurses under cover 112.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the device 210 may, in some embodiments,be a stand-alone device for use with a conventional nursing bra or othergarment 212. The device includes a strap 214 having a first end 216 anda second end 218. A hook, clip, clasp, or other fastener 220 (includingan opening loop of the strap) may be provided at the first end 216 forattachment to a shoulder strap of a nursing bra or, in the case of useto retain an outer garment without a nursing bra, to the second end 218.Another fastener 222 (complimentary to fastener 220), an opening, or aloop may be provided at the second end. In use, the first end 216 ofstrap 214 may run from the shoulder strap of the nursing bra, under theouter garment and in front of the outer garment. The second end 218 maythen be secured at a point proximate to the first end 216, the brastrap, or other component to provide a loop that retains the outergarment above the area where the child would access the breast. Anadjustment element 224 is included and allows the mother to adjust theoverall length of strap 214 and thereby the size of the loop used toretain a garment. This allows the mother to select the loop size thatwill be effective for the garment to be retained.

In some embodiments, the second end may include a clip, a closed loopfor coupling with the fastener at the first end, magnets orhook-and-loop material for forming a loop around the first end or thebra strap, or other suitable means for coupling the second end to apoint proximate the first end.

In some embodiments, the strap may be adjustable in length toaccommodate a variety of outer garments and/or adjust the position atwhich the outer garment. Such adjustability may be accomplished by oneor more cord or slides positioned interior of the strap being anchoredat a first position, and exiting the interior of the strap at a secondposition. The cord may be a shock cord and may be provided with asliding retainer that may be used to cinch up the strap thus making itshorter. Alternatively, one or more sliding buckles, tri-glides, orother devices may be used to provide an adjustable strap.

In some embodiments, the first end of the strap may be directly securedto the nursing garment at the shoulder strap. This provides a singlenursing garment with an integrated device for retaining an outergarment. I some such embodiments the strap may be coupled to the nursinggarment at the first end of the strap.

The magnets may be positioned on or in the strap at the first end andsecond end of the strap to facilitate easy coupling of the two ends withone hand. In some embodiments, multiple magnets may be spaced along thestrap at increasing distances from the second end to allow for the sizeof the loop formed by the strap about the outer garment. Similarly,hook-and-loop material may be provided at or near the first and secondends.

In other embodiments, the strap may be coupled to the nursing garment ata point between the first end and the second end of the strap. This, ineffect, provides two straps. One, terminating at the second end, may berouted under and around the outer garment as before, while the other,terminating at the first end, may pass through a neck opening of theouter garment where it can be coupled to the second end. In suchembodiments, one or both of the strap portions may be adjustable inlength.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, the present invention is not limited to thedescribed exemplary embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that changes may be made to these exemplaryembodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of theinvention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and theirequivalents.

The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting of the invention. As used in the description of the embodimentsand the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. All publications, patentapplications, patents, and other references mentioned herein areincorporated by reference in their entirety.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that relative terms areintended to encompass different orientations of the device in additionto the orientation depicted in the Figures.

Moreover, it will be understood that although the terms first and secondare used herein to describe various features, elements, regions, layersand/or sections, these features, elements, regions, layers and/orsections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one feature, element, region, layer or section fromanother feature, element, region, layer or section. Thus, a firstfeature, element, region, layer or section discussed below could betermed a second feature, element, region, layer or section, andsimilarly, a second without departing from the teachings of the presentinvention.

Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novelinvention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspectsof the present invention are not limited by the particular details ofthe examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated thatother modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occurto those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” andsimilar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in thesense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Manychanges, modifications, variations and other uses and applications ofthe present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilledin the art after considering the specification and the accompanyingdrawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses andapplications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limitedonly by the claims which follow.

The scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited to theembodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scopeconsistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functionalequivalents to the elements of the various embodiments describedthroughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known tothose of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein byreference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A nursing garment accessory comprising: a nursinggarment; a strap coupled to the nursing garment the strap having a firstend and a second end; a fastener coupled to the second end; wherein thestrap is configured to form at least a partial loop to at leastpartially retain an outer garment worn with the nursing garment.
 2. Anursing bra comprising: an under band; a shoulder strap having a firstend and a second end, the first end having a fastener and the second endbeing coupled to the under band at a back of the bra; a cup extendingfrom the under band to a position proximate the first end of theshoulder strap and having a fastener positioned at an apex andconfigured to couple the cup to the shoulder strap; an under strapextending from the first end of the shoulder strap to the under band;and a garment retaining strap extending from a first end at the underband, the under strap, or a point where the under band is coupled to theunder strap, the garment retaining strap having a second end coupled toa fastener configured to couple the second end of the garment retainingstrap to the shoulder strap; wherein the garment retaining strap isgenerally positioned between the cup and the under strap when the apexof the cup is coupled to the shoulder strap.